Differential coupling device.



I. H. DEMING.

DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 001.5, 1912.

' Patented 0017,1913.

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J. H. 'DEMING.

DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 0015, 1912.

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JOSEPH H. DE'M'ING, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF T OSCAR NELSON, 0F MIDD LETOWN, CONNECTICUT.

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To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JosnPH H. DEMING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Difi'erential Coupling Devices, of which the followin-g is a specification.

My invention diiierential coupling devices, and the object of my improvement is simplicity and economy in construction and convenience and eiliciency in use.

In the accompanying drawing :-Fi,gure 1 is a side elevation of my differential coupling device. Fig. 2 is a view of the left end of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the right end of the same. Fig. 4 is an inside end view of one of the end members. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the middle member. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the middle member. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the end member shown in Fig. 4 on the line a; a: in the said figure. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the left ring of the middle member. 9 is a view of the outer end of the same. Fig. 10 is a view of the inner end of the same. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the right ring of the middle member. F 12 is a view of the outer end cat the Fig. 13 is a view of the inner end of the same. Fig. 14 is a plan view of the hub portion ofthe middle member. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 16 is an end view of the same. Fig. 17 is asectional view on the line 1 y of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 18 is a similar view of a modification of my difi'erential coupling device. Fig. 19 is a similar view of another modification of the same.

My differential coupling device comprises a. middle member A and a :pair of end memwhich is operatively hers B, one on each side of the said middle member, one or more sets of coupling d58- v iees C :comprising each a raceway H in housed a set of balls D and suitable supporting means, such as a shaft 'E, which is provided with proper bearings, which latter are not shown.

The end members B may in some cases differ slightly in exterior form to suit special conditions, as for instance, as shown in 1, the left end member B has a hub portion Q0 provided with a groove 21 suitable for receiving a belt. in this case the said left end member 1B is loomly mounted on the shaft Specification of Letters htent.

relates to improvements in Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

Application filed October 5, 1912. Sariatll'o. 724,058.

E and the hub of the right end member B is rigidly connected to the said shaft E as by means of a set screw 22, and the shaft E is provided with a collar 23 adjacent the hub 20 of the left end member B. In interior structure the two end members 13 are similar. As shown the said end members B comprise each the hub portion 20 having an axial bore 26 fitting the shaft E and a flange portion 24 at the inner end 25-thereo The Said inner end 25 is provided with a series of notches or seats 27 of approximately semi-spherical formation and fitting the balls D and arranged in a circle at an 'preciable distance from the shaft E :and concentric therewith. The said notches 27 are interrupted at approximately the middle.

portion thereof by an annular groove 28 of a width appreciably less than the diameter of the oalls D and the notches 27 and extendingaxially into the body of the flange portion 24 slightly beyond the axial depth of the .said notches 27.

The middle member A comprises a hub portion I having a body portion 56 provided with an axialhole 30 fitting the Shaft, E, having radial end faces 31 provided each with an axially extending annular tongue 32. that is aloose fit in the annular recess 28 in the end member 13. The outer periphery 33 oft-he central body portion 56 is finished off suitably to receive the ring members F and G, the said outer periphery 33 as shown being spherical. The said outer periphery 33 is provided at intervals corresponding in number to the number of coupling devices G with grooves 34 constituting each the inner portion of a raceway H, which groove 34 is positioned concentric with a radius in the median plane of the said hub portion I and is of such diameter that when the balls D are positioned therein a portion of the balls at the lateral ends of the raceway H will be exposed beyond the end faces 31. The annular tongue 82 overhangs the balls D, at the vided on the abutting faces with an annular overlapping joint 37. Furthermore, as

. shown, the left ring F is secured to the hub portion I by radial screws 38 and the right ring G is secured to the left ring by means of axially extending screws that pass through the holes 39 in the left ring F and are received in holes 40in the right ring G.

When the middle member A and the end members B are mounted on the shaft E as shown in Figs. 1 and 17 part of the notches 27 are in registration with the balls D as ex posed in the raceway C and engage therewith both above and below the retaining portion 36 of the tongue 32. Accordingly, when rotary motion is given to one of the end members B,.as to the left end member B by a belt applied to the left portion 20 thereof, the balls D are moved in the raceway H by the notches 27 of the left end member B engaged therewith, in case they are free to do so. In such case, by holding the middle member A stationary a rotary movement is imparted to the right endmember B through the medium of the balls D and in a direction reverse to the direction of movement or rotation of the left member B, and as the right end member B is rigidly secured to the'shaft E a rotary movement will be given to the shaft in reverse direction to the movement of the left end member B.

The arrangement described is suitable for special uses for obtaining a reverse movement, and particularly as shown, when the device proper is mounted on a continuous shaft.

In the modification shown in Figs. 18 and 19 the shaft is divided and the internal structure is changed accordingly.

In the modification shown in Fig. 18 the end members B are similar .and comprise each an axial hole having a cylindrical portion 41 at the outer end and a square portion 42 at the inner end. The hub portion I of the middle member A has a cylindrical "axial bore 43 that'is reduced in diameter relatively to the cylindrical and squared portions 41 and 42, of the hole in the end member B The shaft E is divided. the shaft ends being formed similarly and abutting in the middle and comprise each a cylindrical body portion 44, squared portion 45, and reducedcylindrical portion 46 at the inner or tip end and which. fit respectively the cylindrical andsquared portions 41 and 42, of the end members B and the reduced bore 43 of the hub portion P. In this style the middle member A is operatively housed on the shaft tip ends 46 and the end members B are non-rotatively secured on the shaft poraccents in Fig. 19, a two part housing is provided comprising a shell memberL that fits over one end and the body portion of the combined middle member A and end members B and is closed at the open end by a cover M, and which are provided with bearings 47 that engage with the outer ends of the end members B and prevent longitudinal separation thereof.

In the modification. shown in Fig. 19 the end members B are provided at the outer end with a square axialsocket 57 thatis a fit for the square end 48 of the shaft portion E and at the inner end there is an axial ex-' tension 49 that is a fit for the reduced bore 43 of the hub portion I of the middle member A and extends to the middle portion sion 49 of the other shaft portion E As stated, in the modifications shown in Figs. '18 and 19 the shafts E? and E are .di-

vided and the end members are non-rotatively mounted on the shaft portions. Accordingly a rotativemovement applied totative movement of the other shaft portion in case the middle portion A is held against rotation, and these devices are accordingly suitable for use as reversing elements for effecting such reverse movements of the shaft portions, as in reversing gears.

My device as described, particularly the modifications shown in Figs. 18 and 19 is suitable for use as a differential. In such case the middle member A is driven by the power and to enable this to be done may be provided'with a groove or cylindrical face for a belt or with a setof gear teeth on, the periphery and power is transmitted to the end members I?) or B by means of the cou pling devices C. When the resistance is equal on the said end members the balls D engaged with the notches or seats 27 006perate therewith virtually like interlocked gear teeth and serve to couple the middle member A and the shaft ends E and E In case however there is unequal resistance on the two shaft ends and the end members mounted thereon there would result an unbalanced condition with respect to the balls D with'the result that they will be propelled in the raceway until a condition of equilibrium or balancing is attained and which unbalanced condition permits of a greater movement of the one shaft end relatively to the other shaft end. a

The coupling device C comprises essentially a ball bearing of peculiar construction. In some cases the balls D may be re placed by rolls as is sometimes done in the scribed constitutes virtually a mechanical movement and is suitable for'various uses.

90 one shaft portion will effect a reverse roeam-142 As a reversing-element of a coupling-device the same may be used in'the transmission-gearing for-motor boats and in tapping or other chucks for machine tools or for shafting and as a differential a most important use for the same would be in automobiles as well 'as in other situations where a differential maybe required.

Changes in' details other than those shown may be made in various ways in using my invention. For instance, the middle mom-t her A may be made solid in case a plurality of coupling devices G are used and the same A may be supported in -afloat-ing condition by the said coupling devices C. i prefer however'to have the said-middle member posi-i tively supported in. some such way as shown or in a manner-equivalent thereto Also, the spherical feature of the periphery of the hub member may be omitted'and the said periphery be made cylindricaL As regards the floating condition mentioned for the middle member A this coildition would be attained in the modification shown in Fig. 18 by simply omitting the shaft ends 46 shown in the said figure and referred to as the reduced cylindrical portion and in the modification shown in Fig. 19 by omitting the axial extensions 49 shown in the said figure. \Vhether or not the interior portion of the middle member vacated by the omission of the parts mentioned is filled or made solid is immaterial.

No other change then that indicated is necessary for successful operation, it being understood that the condition described is admissible only with a plurality of con pling devices, so that the middle member is supported on all sides.

As regards the substitution of the cylindrical form for the spherical form of the periphery of the hub member, it will be noted that the function of the spherical form is to cooperate with the holding screws to hold the wings F and G in position and when the spherical formation is dispensed with the screws are relied upon entirely for such holding.

I claim as my invention 1. A mechanical movement comprising a pair of end members, rotatively mounted,

and having each a series of notches and a middle member positioned bet-ween the said end members, and provided with a raceway, a set of balls in the said raceway and engaged with the said notches, and serving as means for interconnecting the said end members, and the said end members having their axes in alinement.

2. A differential coupling device comprising a middle member rotatively mounted, a

pair of end members, the said middle mem-,

ber provided with a raceway in a plane in parallelism with the axis, balls in the said raceway, said balls at the lateral ends of the said raceway exposed beyond the endfaces of the said middle member, and the said end members provided each with a. set of notches arranged concentric with the said axis and suitable for engaging with the said balls at the lateral ends of the said raceway, and at-retaining device on the ends of the said middle member and serving-to retain the said balls in the raceway.

3. A differential coupling device comprising a middle member and a pair of end members, a coupling device operatively interconnecting-the said end members and comprising a; set 0-1? balls and a raceway therefor, and a-portion of the said balls being. exposedbeyond the lateral end faces of the said :middle member, means attached to'the said-middle member for retaining the said balls in the said raceway.

1. A differential coupling device comprising a middle member and a pair of end mem bers rotativel-y mounted, the said end members provided each with a set of notches arranged concentric with the axis, the said middle member comprising a hub portion, a raceway on the outer periphery of the said hub portion concentric with a.radius, balls in the said raceway, and means for retaining the said balls in the said raceway.

5. A differential coupling device comprising a middle member and a pair of end members rotatively mounted, the said end members provided each with a set of notches arranged concentric with the axis, the said middle member comprising a hub portion having a raceway on the outer periphery concentric with a radius, ballsin the said raceway, and means for housing the said balls in the said raceway, said means comprising a ring portion positioned exterior to the said hub port-ion.

6. A difierential coupling device comprising a middle member and a pair of end members rotatively mounted, the said end members provided each with a set of notches arranged concentric with the axis, the said middle member comprising a hub portion, a raceway on the outer periphery of the said hub portion concentric with a radius, balls in the said raceway, and means for housing the said balls in the said raceway, the periphery of the said hub portion being spherical and the said means comprising a two part ring portion fitting the said periphery.

7. A differential coupling device comprising a middle member and a pair of end members rotatively mounted, the said end members provided each with a set of notches concentric with the axis, the said middle member comprising a raceway extending across the body portion, balls in the said raceway and a portion thereof exposed at the lateral end faces of the said middle member, the said notches fitting the said balls, ball retaining means extending from the said end faces and inclosingthe said balls, and the said end members provided with a roove concentric with the said notches or operatively housingthe said ball retaining means.

8.'A difierential couplin ing a middle member an a pair of end members rotatively mounted, the said middle member provided with a racewa extending across' the body portion, balls in the said raceway and exposed at the ends of the said middle member, ball retaining means device'comprisat the said ends, the said ball retaining means positioned adjacent the middle portionof the said balls, means on the said end members for receivingthe said ball retaining means and other means for engaging with thelssaid balls that are exposed-at the Said en 9. A difierential coupling deviceco'mpris I the said raceway and e the said middle mem r, ball' retaining members rotativel mounted, the said mid- .dle member provided with a racewa extending across the body portion, be in osed at the ends of means atthe said ends, the said ball retaining means ositioned adjacent the middle portionof t e said balls, means on'the' said end members for the'said ballretaini means and other means for engaging with t e said balls that are exposed at the said ends, and the said latter means operative to en the said balls both above and below the said ball retainingmeans.

ing amiddle member and a pair of end 

